When Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realize a sheikh's (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, he immediately thinks the project… MoreWhen Britain's leading fisheries expert (Ewan McGregor) is approached by a consultant (Emily Blunt) to help realize a sheikh's (Amr Waked) vision of bringing the sport of fly-fishing to the desert, he immediately thinks the project is both absurd and unachievable. But when the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary (Kristin Scott Thomas) latches on to it as a "good will" story, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible. -- (C) CBS Films

While "Salmon Fishing" fritters away the comic momentum of its madcap opening chapters, it's like angling -- a pleasant diversion if you can look below the surface and muster the patience to appreciate it.

You may be turned off by the film's long and artless title, but after taking in this exquisitely restrained romance between man and woman, man and nature,… MoreYou may be turned off by the film's long and artless title, but after taking in this exquisitely restrained romance between man and woman, man and nature, the known and the unknown, you'd be hard pressed to find a title as earnest and true as the film itself.

Cynthia S.

Really nice movie! Enjoyable. Sweet. Funny. Good acting from a notable British cast. Although I am not so sure about the plausibility of their venture, I really… MoreReally nice movie! Enjoyable. Sweet. Funny. Good acting from a notable British cast. Although I am not so sure about the plausibility of their venture, I really enjoyed their interactions. Kristin Scott Thomas's role was hilarious! I also appreciated the courtesy that each player showed for the others' culture. It was sweet, sensitive, and promoted the "against all odds" idea. Nicely done!

Raymond Wieser

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is an inspirational film featuring fine performances from Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. The story overall pretty well thought out,… MoreSalmon Fishing in the Yemen is an inspirational film featuring fine performances from Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. The story overall pretty well thought out, but there were some parts of the film where I felt like I should've been filled in on more details. Some of the supporting cast's acting was unbelievable and I was shocked to see that some of the parts spoken in other languages were dubbed over, but that it was so obvious that what was being said on film was different from what was dubbed over it. Reserved, fun, emotional, and ultimately unsatisfying, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen almost makes the jump to safe ground on the ladder.

KJ Proulx

Due to the solid performances from it's two leads (Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor), "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is a quirky little film. As the… MoreDue to the solid performances from it's two leads (Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor), "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is a quirky little film. As the sport of Salmon fishing is not allowed/impossible in the "Yemen," there has been speculation on letting rivers run through the desert, in order for people to fish globally. It is a simple story accented with amazing scenery, great acting, and some stunning underwater visuals. Most of the time I felt like I was watching a series of short films that were linked together, because I felt like there was not enough development anywhere in the film. People are motivated to do things and that is where the movie takes off. The chemistry is great and that is what sold me. This film is very average in my opinion, but it was a nice watch once.

Film Crazy

Yet another feel-good movie, Scott-Thomas should have featured in it more as she was hilarious.

Everett Johnson

I got a copy of this earlier in the year and didn't watch it because it looked boring and didn't want to make the time. Then the Golden Globe… MoreI got a copy of this earlier in the year and didn't watch it because it looked boring and didn't want to make the time. Then the Golden Globe nominations came out and this is up for a lot of Comedy awards, so I figured I would go back and give it a chance. Since it is up for comedy awards, I assumed it would be hilarious, but it is not. This is a romantic drama through and through with an uplifting story about faith. How anyone thinks this is one of the best five comedies of the year, I'll never know. Ewan McGregor plays a fish expert who helps a consultant(Emily Blunt) realize a sheikh's(Amr Waked) dream of bringing fly fishing to the desert. He thinks it is impossible, but finds ways to make it possible while falling for Blunt. It's not a bad movie at all, kind of bland, but it's not bad. McGregor is one of the most underrated actors today and here he does a great job. Blunt is ok, and their chemistry probably could have been better, but it's better than most. If there is one reason to call this a comedy it's because of Kristen Scott Thomas's press secretary. She has some great lines and is the reason for the 2 times I laughed during the movie. If anyone should get any nominations for comedy in this it's her(she got nothing, btw). A lot of people I know will probably never think twice about watching this, but if your ever bored and just wanna watch a "feel good movie", pop this in. Might surprise you.

Nate Zoebl

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen will likely not be outdone in 2012 for strangest title of a mainstream film release. It is indeed about the crazy idea of bringing… MoreSalmon Fishing in the Yemen will likely not be outdone in 2012 for strangest title of a mainstream film release. It is indeed about the crazy idea of bringing salmon to an emerging system of rivers in a Middle Eastern country. You'd expect some cultural conflicts and even some can-do uplift by the end. What I wasn't expecting was a hokey romantic comedy to take hold of the movie. Ewan McGregor plays a repressed fish expert who partners up with Emily Blunt, whose company represents a wealthy Yemen sheik with a cockamamie dream. I felt that the sheer magnitude of project, transforming an environment, the triumph of the human spirit and cooperation, would be compelling enough. But this trifle of a romance demands the greater attention. There's a contrived plot point where Blunt's boyfriend of three weeks is presumed dead in Afghanistan. Guess who comes back later? This entire storyline hinges around the fact that she was only with the guy for three weeks; even she admits, "I never got to know him better." The coupling feels extra tacky because McGregor is married too. Sure his marriage appears to be in a rut, but does that excuse his behavior? The political satire of the British government also feels pretty tin-eared and forced, like they're compensating with volume for wit. Then there are the corny moments like McGregor foiling an assassination attempt on the sheik with a fly fishing rod. Yes, he whips it around the attacker's arm like Zorro. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is a nice enough little film, at least it would have been had it ever been allowed to jettison the yoke of a lackluster romantic comedy.
Nate's Grade: C+

Carlos Magalhães

A silly hodgepodge of comedy and romance that tries hard to be charming and profound but ends up being just a corny melodrama, missing the promise of a… MoreA silly hodgepodge of comedy and romance that tries hard to be charming and profound but ends up being just a corny melodrama, missing the promise of a political satire to offer instead a lot of preachiness and ludicrous comparisons between fishing and faith.

Candy Rose

Unusual story about two people are put together because of an ambitious project of fly fishing in the desert. Good cast.

Make the Improbable possible.
Great Movie! Enjoying a film like "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" is similar to acquiring a taste for actual fishing.… MoreMake the Improbable possible.
Great Movie! Enjoying a film like "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" is similar to acquiring a taste for actual fishing. Like the sport that some find invigorating while others find it dreadfully dull, this film has its draggy moments. However, there are also enlightening points to the movie that come when you least expect them. The film has elements of romantic comedy, environmentalism, foreign relations drama, and insight-fulness that makes it difficult to concretely categorize. Fortunately, all these facets combine to create a story that's far from predictable. Just like a current, there are times you don't know where the story is going. In the leading roles, Ewan McGregor and Eva Green have a good chemistry with each other, and despite being very famous actors, they are both perfectly credible as two normal people in a labor situation which invites the romance almost by accident. "Salmon Fishing in the Yemen" is a pleasure to watch and I can assure you you won't feel disappointed. Unles you are not the kind who appreciates a good old fashioned story, simple and yet full of determination.
A visionary sheik believes his passion for the peaceful pastime of salmon fishing can enrich the lives of his people, and he dreams of bringing the sport to the not so fish-friendly desert. Willing to spare no expense, he instructs his representative to turn the dream into reality, an extraordinary feat that will require the involvement of Britain's leading fisheries expert who happens to think the project both absurd and unachievable. That is, until the Prime Minister's overzealous press secretary latches on to it as a 'good will' story. Now, this unlikely team will put it all on the line and embark on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible, possible.

Tired of Previews

Question: Do you feel like you are set on a path to follow or please others, and it goes against your nature to turn around and walk another way? You don't… MoreQuestion: Do you feel like you are set on a path to follow or please others, and it goes against your nature to turn around and walk another way? You don't even realize you are stagnant in your own life; but what happens when you meet that one person who helps you change direction? Well, they become your savior and in return you become theirs because you help them to join your path - a route that the you two were destined to combine.
I was lucky enough to go to a screening for Salmon Fishing in the Yemen the other day as this film is not opening until the first week of March 2012; and I was grateful for the viewing because this movie was just delightful. When film-makers combine romance, drama and comedy it has all the elements to make you feel good, and this movie did just that. Love it when that happens. Actually by the end of the film my cheeks hurt because I realized for nearly the entire film I was smiling.
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is just that - a story about a sheik from Yemen, who has a home in Scotland and adores fly fishing so much that he wants to create a place to fish in his native country. A firm that represents the sheik's money is put in charge of getting the seemingly impossible task achieved. Harriet Chetwode-Talbot, played by Emily Blunt, is the person who must persuade a reluctant fisheries expert, played by Ewan McGregor, to help the sheik obtain his vision. A sweet and unusual friendship is sparked between the quiet, reserved (and dare I say nerdy) Scotsman and the go-getter, albeit overly-emotional at times, English woman. I enjoyed watching them together on-screen; two strangers who showed up in each other's lives and end up altering each other's paths in profound ways.
I will skip over talking about whom stars in it because you all heard enough about him from me, but I must talk about Kristin Scott Thomas and her part in the film. She plays the press secretary for the Prime Minister of Britain and her character was absolutely hysterical! She was the comedic relief in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, and I am not quite sure I have ever seen her play a character like this before now. Usually she plays quiet, sometimes sullen characters but in this film she is full of energy and is a takes-no-bullshit type of gal. Loved it. Wait until you see how she talks to people - even her own children.
Emily Blunt was equally as intriguing but still my favorite performance of her's is from The Devil Wears Prada. However, in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen it was a delight to see a normally strong female character show some vulnerability when her supposed path is drastically shifted, and then an unassuming man gently comforts her with just his mere presence. I enjoyed those scenes the most.
This movie is based on the book of the same name by Paul Torday and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, a favorite of mine due to his ability to take you into an emotional journey with his slight off-beat vision. (Chocolat, Hachi: A Dog's Tale, What's Eating Gilbert Grape and The Cider House Rules, etc...)
Directed by Lasse Hallström, CBS Films, 2012
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Amr Waked, Rachael Stirling, Tom Mison and Kristin Scott Thomas.
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance.
My favorite thing: Kristin Scott Thomas AND hearing Ewan McGregor's Scottish accent.
My least favorite thing: A little bit predictable especially at the climax of the film. It had all right indie film qualities until that part.
Rating: PG-13
Length: 112 minutes
Review: 7 out of 10